By Jolene FarleyMost of the paraprofessionals currently working in area schools don’t meet federal requirements. Local school districts are working to meet those requirements mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.No Child Left Behind legislation mandates all newly hired paraprofessionals must have completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education, obtained an associate’s degree or higher, or met a rigorous standard of quality, demonstrated through a local state or local academic assessment.Paraprofessionals (teachers’ aides) who are currently working in school districts must meet the same requirements by 2006.All paraprofessionals, whether a current employee or newly hired, must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. Only paraprofessionals working as translators or exclusively on parental involvement activities are exempt.Administrators at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School are working with paraprofessionals in their district to meet the criteria, according to Elementary Principal Todd Holthous. If school districts don’t comply by 2006, they risk losing Title I and Title II funding, according to Holthaus. "They (government) said that we need leadership and training for paraprofessionals," Holthaus said. "They need to document skills."Seven paraprofessionals in H-BC are attending workshops and taking on-line courses to meet the requirements. "There are nine competencies and they have to demonstrate proficiencies in these competencies," Holthaus said. He doesn’t anticipate losing any of the paraprofessionals currently on staff because of the new requirements.The paraprofessionals in the district have already mastered many of the skills required by the new legislation, according to Holthaus. "It’s just the documentation; that’s where the difficulties come in," Holthaus said.The employees are working an average of two to three hours a week toward their certification. Holthaus worries the new requirements could lead to a shortage of paraprofessionals."I think the problems are going to come with a shortage of licensed paraprofessionals in 2006," he said.The new certification could also increase wages because of the education requirements. "It’s probably going to have a roll in compensation for paras," Holthaus said. Despite a possible shortage and increased wages, Holthaus doesn’t think the mandates were a bad idea. In larger districts, where administrators don’t work side by side with their employees, the quality of paraprofessionals may not be monitored as closely as smaller districts."In a small district it’s not a huge necessity, but some may fall through the cracks in an urban school district," he said. Mavis Schmidt, who has been a paraprofessional at Hills-Beaver Creek for seven years, supports the new requirements."Some of the stuff is just common sense," she said. Paraprofessionals in the Hills-Beaver Creek district have always attended workshops and learned new ways to help students, according to Schmidt.The difference now is that paraprofessionals must document what they learn.
